According to BBC news it could be. They report:
Male Reproductive Health Set in Early Stages of Pregnancy
Men’s fertility problems are determined while they’re developing in the womb, say University of Edinburgh researchers whose studies in rats showed that common male genital disorders, low sperm count and testicular cancer may all be connected to hormone levels during the early stages of pregnancy.
Based on their findings in rats, the researchers concluded that a human male’s future reproductive health is determined by levels of male hormones (androgens) in a critical “window” at 8-12 weeks of pregnancy, BBC News reported.
In addition, the researchers said there’s a link between levels of male hormones at this stage of pregnancy and the distance between the base of the penis and the anus. They suggested checking this measurement in baby boys could help predict future reproductive problems.
“We know from other studies that androgens work during fetal development to program the reproductive tract. But our assumption was that it would be much later in pregnancy,” said study leader Dr. Michelle Welsh, BBC News reported.
The findings appear in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
